New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Wednesday asked the central government to respond to a plea from over 60 Pakistani nationals illegally staying and seeking refugee status in India.A bench comprising of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar asked the government to reply by Dec 17, the next date of hearing.

The Pakistanis approached the court seeking stay on their deportation Wednesday, a day after the government decided to deport them.

The Pakistani nationals were arrested for illegally staying in India last year.

They have been charged under section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and other sections of the foreigners act and registration of foreigners act.

All the accused were arrested at Jantar Mantar for staying in the country without valid travel documents as they burnt their passports during a protest.

The police, however, claimed that a perusal of the facts and inquiries with persons referred to as acquaintances of the foreigners in visa applications had revealed that the Pakistanis were not invited by them and there were no links between them.

The police further alleged at the time of their arrest at Jantar Mantar April 23 last year, most of the Pakistanis had not even the permission to visit the capital.